When theatre meets victims: Theatre for development, counter-terrorism and social stability in North-East, Nigeria

Abstract

The vain extermination of lives and the loss of property worth billions of Naira in NorthEast, Nigeria calls to question, the actual motive of the Terrorist group domicile in the area. Apart from the civil war and subsequent submission to peace and unity, Nigeria has not got to grapple with such high profile security challenge like that perpetrated by Boko Haram. This paper examines insecurity and its daunting effects on peaceful co-existence in Nigeria.  Among other forms of security threats, militancy, Fulani militia attacks and inter/intra-communal crises, it focuses on terrorism and its threat to social  stability in Nigeria. The paper uses qualitative research methodology and in line with the popular axiom, “knowledge is power, he who possesses  knowledge, possesses power”, designs drama instances which can be performed in troubled communities and beyond. The essence is to empower and  equip citizens with the knowledge on how to cope with life in such monstrous situation and also assist government agencies with useful information  which they can use to decimate the terror group. The paper concludes that the dislodgment of Boko Haram is factorial to the existence of peace and  development of the affected areas and Nigeria as a whole. The paper encourages all hands to be on deck in other to terminate this savagery in Nigeria.